Because Young Leo DiCaprio is unquestionably the best version of Leonardo DiCaprio we have ever had. He was a far cry from the current, belligerent (?), withered Leo we know today who is often photographed in his characteristic hoodie, jeans and baseball cap, usually with some 20-year-old model walking next to him.

No, before he got this Leo, who is only ever really mentioned in reference to his carousel of model girlfriends or because he’s only won one Oscar, we had Young Leo. And Young Leo was a real gem for a number of reasons.

Romeo + Juliet

The first of which is his role in Romeo + Juliet. Leo as Romeo Capulet is perhaps one of the best casting decisions we have ever been lucky enough to receive. He was outstanding in all his broody, floppy hair glory. You only have to watch the film in order to see my point about why Young Leo is the best Leo. The fish tank scene! Those piercing blue eyes!

I think my favourite moment, however, that really calcifies my love for Young Leo, is the scene in which he and Juliet are about to consummate their love following their wedding. Gently kissing Claire Danes’ Juliet, Young Leo also places his hand tentatively on the small of her back as she takes off her top and I am just about dead even describing it.

The close second is this scene, where they are in bed the morning after and Leo has his monologue underneath the white cotton sheets. Swoon.

Titanic

As Jack Dawson, he was the cheeky, talented, American artist who made us all want to be drawn like one of his “French girls”. His role in Titanic was really the thing to catapult him to the Leo fame he enjoyed subsequently and remains to be one of his finest cinematic performances.

Young Leo as Jack Dawson gave artists a good name for about 10 years which is a *long* time when you consider the bad reputation artists have. He also made us realise that the key to any successful relationship will always be finding someone who can dance.

Commitment

Now, anyone knows anything about Leo even vaguely, is probably thinking at this point, ‘but, Courtney, Young Leo was just as loose as Old Leo’, and you know what? You’d be correct. However, the vital difference is that Young Leo was able to get away with it because he was immature and virile. But also, let me draw your attention to one name: Gisele Bundchen. She was, arguably, the bridge between Young Leo and Old Leo in more ways than one.

Crucially, she proved that Leo does, in fact, have the ability to commit to a relationship that lasts longer than the flavour of a piece of Hubba Bubba chewing gum. Leo dated Gisele for five (!!) years, and they were indeed a beautiful couple. But their relationship served the important purpose of proving that Young Leo was better at commitment than Old Leo, thus adding even more weight to my already rock-solid argument.

Finally, the Pussy Posse

Now, I’m actually on the fence as to whether the Pussy Posse - the group of young Hollywood actors that Young Leo surrounded himself with - made Young Leo better or worse than Old Leo. I think it makes him marginally better, purely because of the image of a Young Toby Maguire and Young Leo out on the town in New York City is simply irresistible. Leo and his friends were notorious for partying and generally just living the life all of us would lead if we were that good looking and had tonnes of money to blow. But mostly, as I said, I just find Young Leo and Toby delicious.

And so you see, there really is no denying that the best Leo we have ever had the privilege of knowing is, undeniably, Young Leo. May he always live on in our hearts.

BRB going to watch Romeo + Juliet for the 17th time (this year).

The Beach - Trailer2:27

Trailer for the 2000 Danny Boyle film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The desire to find something real -- to connect with something or someone -- is what drives Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young American backpacker who arrives in Thailand with adventure on his mind. Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) join him on an adventure to "The Beach," a mystical paradise. However, this paradise is less than perfect.